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I'm an American who recently moved to Brussels. The quality of life here is so much better. Nice, dense neighborhoods, good public transit, very little signs of poverty, well paid workers, polite manners, sensible laws about guns, much lower rate of violent crime - the list goes on. If only America wasn't infested with ignorant republican yahoos, it too could enjoy the full benefits of being a western democracy. It's such a shame the non Yankee element keeps America from reaching it's potential.
One big difference is the legality of guns in the USA. I personally like this because it ultimately means we can never be taken over by our government or another power without very serious consequences. There is a price of more murders when you have the availability of guns but I bet the Jews in Germany wished they didn't give up their guns. I also like the basic foundation of the USA that our government is subservient to the people...which I think has been one of the secrets of our unparalleled success for over 200 years.
No offense, but you have been misled. Republicans, indeed, want you to believe exactly what you believe, but it's not true. The government does not work for the people (at least by Republican design), it works for corporations. The Republican mantra that government is evil has a very duplicitous message attached, and that is to make the poorest conservative Americans rely on their churches or families for any type of assistance in life. And we are the richest country on earth. Where does all that money go? It goes to the partnership our government has with the military industrial complex to purchase $1200.00 hammers, to name one of thousands of examples. And it goes towards making sure the richest corporations can make more money, with little interference from the government. Shipping jobs to China? Put it on the fast track. Hampered by the EPA? We can block that. And on and on. What were Reagan's words on the issue? "I'm from the government, and I'm here to help" he said, to thunderous laughs from his beer swilling, pot bellied, minimum wage fan club.
As far as guns making you feel secure, it has led to a very violent society where thousands are shot to death yearly, and to think you and your buddies can grab a twelve pack of Milwaukee's Best and defend yourself from the U.S. government is a fantasy that is spun by the NRA and gun fetishists everywhere.
But the issue here is not guns in America, so I won't comment on that any further, as this topic makes the crazies start frothing.
well, Those who seek "change" will probably have a more focused desire to live in the land of their dreams.
To me,
America is WAY better if you know how to save and invest. Europeans are probably better for the wage earners, even that is debatable. One thing I do admire Europeans is that Europeans aren't brainwashed with endless propaganda about how they live in a perfect country.
I am glad that OP is happy with his decision and choice with all honesty. But you cannot directly compare Europe and America, different culture, different dynamic, different systems, different life styles.
Lily, I'm not a Europhile. Living in Europe was not a dream of mine. I moved for work. Now that I'm here I do see there are a lot of things Americans could benefit from emulating. We used to have crap coffee, bread, beer, etc. but we decided to take a page from the old world and upped our game. We could do so in other ways as well - mainly urban planning. The use is space is just flat out better. Why can't we have nicely laid out walkable, bikable convenient suburbs too?
Living in Europe and Germany in particular, it does seem like the Euros's have solved all the problems that all countries struggle with.
The Fact is, speaking with some who has moved from Brussels to NY. Europe does not encourage the average man to progress from his wage earning job and expects a pension. In Europe people who make money are taxed overly and thus why so many want to migrate to America. A man who raises a Family is forced to provide a education until his children is into to 30 something.
This gentleman I speaking of is a on going process of unmotivated young Europeans to earn their own way.When it comes to getting a job the so called, responsible, loving children sign p for anther class so Daddy can pay some more along with supporting the unemployed X-Wife.
While these Children get stoned in the park and read a good book. While the rest of the motivated Citizens of Europe earn a living.
American is a Great Place and there is a reason why the world wants to Migrate to America.
Living in Europe and Germany in particular, it does seem like the Euros's have solved all the problems that all countries struggle with.
The Fact is, speaking with some who has moved from Brussels to NY. Europe does not encourage the average man to progress from his wage earning job and expects a pension. In Europe people who make money are taxed overly and thus why so many want to migrate to America. A man who raises a Family is forced to provide a education until his children is into to 30 something.
This gentleman I speaking of is a on going process of unmotivated young Europeans to earn their own way.When it comes to getting a job the so called, responsible, loving children sign p for anther class so Daddy can pay some more along with supporting the unemployed X-Wife.
While these Children get stoned in the park and read a good book. While the rest of the motivated Citizens of Europe earn a living.
American is a Great Place and there is a reason why the world wants to Migrate to America.
You want to compare a postage stamp size country to the entire US? If America wasn't suffering from liberal cancer it would be an even better country.
Good for you, I hope you stay there. I doubt the crime, poverty or violence rate there is any lower than it is where I live in the US but it probably is lower than whatever liberal urban cesspool you moved away from.
That's because there are more cows than people where you live.
1. I don't agree with the principles European governments are based on. There is more of a tendency to sacrifice individual rights to supposedly benefit the collective. Its more of the attitude that the government grants people their rights, rather than people have them naturally, with or without government.
2. At the moment they might have a high quality of life. The problem is the amount of debt they're going into. It's not sustainable and will eventually come to an end...who knows when, but it's going to happen. There's the old cliche saying "socialism is great until you run out of other people's money".
America has been the number 1 dream destination for people living in third world countries. We have been this giant melting pot. You import 3rd world, you become 3rd world.
Everybody wants to move to Denmark, and guess what? Denmark has the tightest immigration law.
Let's close all military bases in European countries and let these Europeans worry about their own ass, Let's follow Denmark's immigration law for a change.
Nice, dense neighborhoods, sensible laws about guns, If only America wasn't infested with ignorant republican yahoos, it too could enjoy the full benefits of being a western democracy. It's such a shame the non Yankee element keeps America from reaching it's potential.
Yea, "dense" neighborhoods should be everyones dream. As should be curtailed rights (in this case 2A) and getting rid of those who share different political views than you.
I'm an American who recently moved to Brussels. The quality of life here is so much better. Nice, dense neighborhoods, good public transit, very little signs of poverty, well paid workers, polite manners, sensible laws about guns, much lower rate of violent crime - the list goes on. If only America wasn't infested with ignorant republican yahoos, it too could enjoy the full benefits of being a western democracy. It's such a shame the non Yankee element keeps America from reaching it's potential.
Ummmm................................ take a look around. Did you notice that Belgium lacks "diversity" (a gift of liberalism)?
1. Lack of diversity-What you are seeing is northern european culture in action, in which hard work, education, and cultural cohesiveness is the norm. This is what we have in the northern american midwest- it is cultural.
Take the population of Detroit and plop them in Belgium and soon Belgium will look like Detroit.
2. Poor trade agreements- Europe also does not have NAFTA and China most favored nation trade status ("gifts" of liberalism and the Clinton administration)
3. Lack of military spending- Europe relies upon the US to essentially foot the bill for their protection.
4. Enforcement of immigration laws- Northern European nations actually enforce immigration laws. I wonder how they would do with 35 million uneducated mexicans dumped in their nation?
Hey - if you are a liberal (which you are) don't bring your American leftist ideas to northern europe, as you will destroy those nations as well.
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The Problem.
